14 replies to this topic

[Alberto]

The other thread on replacement axles got me thinking...

Is there any preventative maintenance for the rear axles (between diff and hubs not driveshaft between trans and diff)?

Is there any "race preparation" that should be performed on these? Like special grease, pixie dust and whatnot...

Any how-tos?

Also, what are the symptoms when the axles start to go bad?

The axles I'm using are from a 2000 with 60k miles so I'm curious what, if anything, I should consider as part of a maintenance or prep.

Thanks.

[Glenn]

The other thread on replacement axles got me thinking...

Is there any preventative maintenance for the rear axles (between diff and hubs not driveshaft between trans and diff)?

Is there any "race preparation" that should be performed on these? Like special grease, pixie dust and whatnot...

Any how-tos?

Also, what are the symptoms when the axles start to go bad?

The axles I'm using are from a 2000 with 60k miles so I'm curious what, if anything, I should consider as part of a maintenance or prep.

Thanks.

Short of a torn boot I can say I have NEVER seen a stub axle failure that was not crash related.........Just sayin.

[Sphinx]

Short of a torn boot I can say I have NEVER seen a stub axle failure that was not crash related.........Just sayin.

Pick me! Pick me! I had one fail under admittedly odd circumstances. I had a frozen rear caliper that managed to overheat the axel during an enduro. Caused the bearing cage to crack open. It was one of those cracks that cause you to keep the old part to show off to your friends. Those were not normal circumstances, but they weren't crash related.

[Glenn]

Pick me! Pick me! I had one fail under admittedly odd circumstances. I had a frozen rear caliper that managed to overheat the axel during an enduro. Caused the bearing cage to crack open. It was one of those cracks that cause you to keep the old part to show off to your friends. Those were not normal circumstances, but they weren't crash related.

Yup theres one in every crowd LOL

[Alberto]

There aren't any stub axles in the axles used on a Torsen (assuming I understand what a stub axle is...)

With all the talk about "freeing up the drivetrain", I started wondering what is under those rubber boots in the axles and whether anyone paid any attention to them in the formm of synthetic grease or other such tricks.

[Glenn]

There aren't any stub axles in the axles used on a Torsen (assuming I understand what a stub axle is...)

With all the talk about "freeing up the drivetrain", I started wondering what is under those rubber boots in the axles and whether anyone paid any attention to them in the formm of synthetic grease or other such tricks.

It is a frictionless system......how would you "trick" up a shaft except to lighten it which would be WAY out of bounds.

[Jim Drago]

It is a frictionless system......how would you "trick" up a shaft except to lighten it which would be WAY out of bounds.

Cleaning out that 100k grease, cleaning the joints and putting in fresh synthetic goes a loooong way

[Adam Molaver]

It is a frictionless system......how would you "trick" up a shaft except to lighten it which would be WAY out of bounds.

that right there is funny... the force vector changes via the CV joint == frictional losses. after session, put a hand on the boot. is it ambient? what about the diff? same basic idea - force comes in one direction and is 'redirected' to another. is that also 'frictionless'?

that said, i've never touched them. i've had to replace one when a boot was torn - damn grease goes EVERYWHERE - but never proactively 'serviced' them. guess it wouldn't be the worst way to kill a couple hours.. any tips / tricks on opening / resealing the boots jim?

ahm

[Glenn]

Cleaning out that 100k grease, cleaning the joints and putting in fresh synthetic goes a loooong way

Consider me schooled.......

[Jim Drago]

guess it wouldn't be the worst way to kill a couple hours.. any tips / tricks on opening / resealing the boots jim?

ahm

They really are a messy thankless job No real easy or clean way to do it IMO
Jim

[Austin Robison]

Alberto, if you want to bring your car to my shop over the weekend we could repack both of our sets of axles and make one consolidated mess.

[MazdaSteve]

"Pick me! Pick me! I had one fail under admittedly odd circumstances. I had a frozen rear caliper that managed to overheat the axel during an enduro. Caused the bearing cage to crack open. It was one of those cracks that cause you to keep the old part to show off to your friends. Those were not normal circumstances, but they weren't crash related."

Who was driving when that little escaped happened you or me? Reminds me of the time I gave Hubbart the RX7 back at the ARRC Enduro and the brake pedal went to the floor on him coming into 10A at Road Atlanta... Just say'in.

[Ron Alan]

They really are a messy thankless job No real easy or clean way to do it IMO
Jim

So is it an over the counter tool that can replace the bands if you cut them?

I somehow managed to pull one apart in the process of a diff change. Not knowing i did(the boot held things together) I proceeded to bend the crap out of the keeper ring inside as I kept slamming it trying to get the axle back in the diff. When I figured out why the hub kept flopping out I cut the larger strap and peeled back the rubber as all the pieces fell out. After straightening the keeper ring as best I could(I really did a number on it)I put it back together...with a large pipe clamp holding the rubber boot on the side I cut. Still driving it like this

[Keith Novak]

The fronts are wired on with 2 loops of wire that aren't really a heavy gauge wire. I'm no expert but I'm guessing the rears turn more or less the same speed as the fronts. Since it's really a grease condom, I'd feel pretty safe just lashing it on with a couple loops of wire before I changed out the axle with a new band strap because my condom slipped.

(edit) I had a facepalm earlier when I thought about this. I was thinking of my tie rod boots on the steering rack. If they spin you've got a serious problem. I'd use the proper straps now that I think of it.

[Alberto]

Thanks gents. These things look kinda like CV joints from what I can tell. I found a few videos on YouTube with info on rebuilding. Maybe I'll take a stab at it in the winter. I really don't feel like pulling my car apart right now.